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Abstract:

Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and a method
for cabinet asset management and a cabinet system. The apparatus for
cabinet asset management includes a management unit and at least one
antenna board unit. The management unit sends a read signal to the
antenna board unit. After receiving the read signal, the antenna board
unit sends the read signal in a form of an electromagnetic wave, so that
after sensing a magnetic field signal, a label within a radiation range
of the electromagnetic wave sends, using an induction current,
configuration information of a physical component stored in the label to
the antenna board unit. After receiving the configuration information,
the antenna board unit reports the configuration information to the
management unit. After receiving the configuration information reported
by the antenna board unit, the management unit performs data analysis
processing.

Claims:

1. An apparatus for cabinet asset management, comprising: a management
unit and at least one antenna board unit, wherein the management unit and
the antenna board unit are connected through a bus; the management unit
is configured to send a read signal to the antenna board unit through the
bus, to instruct the antenna board unit to acquire configuration
information of a physical component, and the antenna board unit is
configured to receive the read signal and send the read signal in a form
of an electromagnetic wave; the antenna board unit is further configured
to receive the configuration information of the physical component,
wherein the configuration information is sent by a label within a
radiation range of the electromagnetic wave after the read signal is
received, and report the configuration information to the management unit
through the bus; the label is located on the physical component and
stores the configuration information of the physical component; and the
management unit is further configured to receive the configuration
information reported by the antenna board unit, and perform analysis
processing on the configuration information.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the management unit
comprises a management module, a read-write module, and a control module,
and the antenna board unit comprises an address identification module, a
switching module, and at least one antenna module; the management module
connects to the control module through a control bus, and the switching
module and the at least one antenna module are connected through a data
bus; the control module is configured to send a node address message and
the read signal; the address identification module is configured to
receive the node address message, control the switching module to switch
the data bus to the antenna module that corresponds to the node address
message; the read-write module is configured to receive the read signal,
and send the read signal to the antenna module; the antenna module is
configured to, after the read signal is received, send the read signal in
the form of the electromagnetic wave, receive the configuration
information of the physical component, transmit the configuration
information to the read-write module, and report the configuration
information to the management module via the read-write module; the
configuration information is sent by the label within the radiation range
of the electromagnetic wave after the read signal is received; and the
management unit is configured to receive the configuration information
reported by the read-write module, and perform the analysis processing on
the configuration information.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the configuration
information comprises at least one of position information, asset
information, a component type, and manufacturing information.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising multiple
antenna board units, and the multiple antenna board units implement
cascading connection through the control bus and the data bus.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the multiple antenna board
units implementing cascading connection through the control bus and the
data bus comprises that: in the multiple antenna board units, address
identification modules of all the antenna board units implement the
cascading connection to each other through the control bus, and switching
modules of all the antenna board units implement the cascading connection
to each other through the data bus.

6. A cabinet system, comprising: an apparatus for cabinet asset
management and at least one physical component, wherein one corresponding
label is set in each physical component, and the label stores
configuration information of the corresponding physical component; the
apparatus for the cabinet asset management comprises a management unit
and at least one antenna board unit; the management unit and the antenna
board unit are connected through a bus, the management unit is configured
to send a read signal to the antenna board unit through the bus, to
instruct the antenna board unit to acquire the configuration information
of the physical component, and the management unit is further configured
to receive the configuration information reported by the antenna board
unit, and perform analysis processing on the configuration information;
and the antenna board unit is configured to receive the read signal, and
send the read signal in a form of an electromagnetic wave, and the
antenna board unit is further configured to receive the configuration
information of the corresponding physical component, wherein the
configuration information is sent by the label within a radiation range
of the electromagnetic wave after the read signal is received, and report
the configuration information to the management unit through the bus.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the management unit comprises
a management module, a read-write module, and a control module, and the
antenna board unit comprises an address identification module, a
switching module, and an antenna module that is at least in one-to-one
correspondence with the physical component; the management module
connects to the control module through a control bus, and the switching
module and one antenna module are connected through a data bus; the
control module is configured to send a node address message and the read
signal; the address identification module is configured to receive the
node address message, control the switching module to switch the data bus
to the antenna module that corresponds to the node address message; the
read-write module is configured to receive the read signal and send the
read signal to the antenna module; the antenna module is configured to
send the read signal in the form of the electromagnetic wave after
receiving the read signal, receive the configuration information of the
physical component, transmit the configuration information to the
read-write module, and report the configuration information to the
management module via the read-write module; the configuration
information is sent by the label within the radiation range of the
electromagnetic wave after the read signal is received; and the
management unit is configured to receive the configuration information
reported by the read-write module, and perform the analysis processing on
the configuration information.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the configuration information
comprises at least one of position information, asset information, a
component type, and manufacturing information.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus for the cabinet
asset management further comprises multiple antenna board units, and the
multiple antenna board units implement cascading connection through the
control bus and the data bus.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the multiple antenna board
units implementing cascading connection through the control bus and the
data bus comprises that: in the multiple antenna board units, address
identification modules of all the antenna board units implements
cascading connection to each other through the control bus, and switching
modules of all the antenna board units implement the cascading connection
to each other through the data bus.

11. A method for cabinet asset management, wherein a cabinet comprises a
management unit and one or more cabinet physical partitions, each of the
cabinet physical partitions comprises an antenna board unit and one or
more physical components, and the method comprises: transmitting, by the
management unit, a control signal to the antenna board unit of each
cabinet physical partition of one or more cabinet physical partitions
through a control bus; and according to the control signal, reading, by
the antenna board unit in each cabinet physical partition, first
configuration information of a physical component, and transmitting, the
first configuration information to the management unit through a data
bus.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the management unit
comprises a management module, a read-write module, and a control module,
and each antenna board unit comprises an address identification module, a
switching module, and an antenna module; one corresponding label is set
in each physical component, the label stores configuration information of
the corresponding physical component, and the method comprises:
delivering, by the management module, a first control signal, which
contains a cycle inquiring period for cyclically inquiring configuration
information, to the control module through the control bus, so that the
control module configures the cycle inquiring period according to the
first control signal; transmitting, by the control module, through the
control bus and within the cycle inquiring period, a second control
signal, which comprises address information of the antenna board unit and
address information of a physical component, to an address identification
module of the antenna board unit that corresponds to an address of the
antenna board unit, and transmitting the second control signal to the
management module; identifying, by the address identification module of
the antenna board unit that corresponds to the address of the antenna
board unit, an address of the physical component in the second control
signal, and sending a third control signal to a switching module of the
antenna board part that corresponds to the address of the antenna board
unit; according to the third control signal, switching, by the switching
module of the antenna board unit that corresponds to the address of the
antenna board unit, the data bus to an antenna module that corresponds to
the address of the physical component, so that the antenna module sends,
to its corresponding physical component, a radio frequency signal from
the read-write module; after the radio frequency signal is received,
sending, by a label that corresponds to the physical component, its
stored first configuration information of the physical component to the
antenna module in the wireless manner, so that the antenna module
transmits the first configuration information of the physical component
to the read-write module via the switching module through the data bus;
transmitting, by the read-write module, the read first configuration
information to the management module through the data bus; comparing, by
the management module, the first configuration information with
configuration information pre-stored in a configuration library; if
inconsistent, updating the configuration information stored in the
configuration library; or storing, by the label that corresponds to the
physical component, the second configuration information that is sent
from the read-write module to the antenna module.

13. A method for cabinet asset management, wherein a cabinet comprises a
management unit and one or more cabinet physical partitions, each of the
cabinet physical partitions comprises an antenna board unit and one or
more physical components, and the method comprises: transmitting, by the
management unit, a control signal to the antenna board unit of each
cabinet physical partition of one or more cabinet physical partitions
through a control bus; and acquiring, by the antenna board unit of each
cabinet physical partition, according to the control signal, second
configuration information from the management unit through the data bus
and writing the second configuration information into a physical
component in a wireless manner.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the management unit
comprises a management module, a read-write module, and a control module,
and each antenna board unit comprises an address identification module, a
switching module, and an antenna module; one corresponding label is set
in each physical component, the label stores configuration information of
the corresponding physical component, and the method comprises:
delivering, by the management module, a first control signal, which
contains a cycle inquiring period for cyclically inquiring configuration
information, to the control module through the control bus, so that the
control module configures the cycle inquiring period according to the
first control signal; transmitting, by the control module, through the
control bus and within the cycle inquiring period, a second control
signal, which comprises address information of the antenna board unit and
address information of a physical component, to an address identification
module of the antenna board unit that corresponds to an address of the
antenna board unit, and transmitting the second control signal to the
management module; identifying, by the address identification module of
the antenna board unit that corresponds to the address of the antenna
board unit, an address of the physical component in the second control
signal, and sending a third control signal to a switching module of the
antenna board part that corresponds to the address of the antenna board
unit; according to the third control signal, switching, by the switching
module of the antenna board unit that corresponds to the address of the
antenna board unit, the data bus to an antenna module that corresponds to
the address of the physical component, so that the antenna module sends,
to its corresponding physical component, a radio frequency signal from
the read-write module; after the radio frequency signal is received,
sending, by a label that corresponds to the physical component, its
stored first configuration information of the physical component to the
antenna module in the wireless manner, so that the antenna module
transmits the first configuration information of the physical component
to the read-write module via the switching module through the data bus;
transmitting, by the read-write module, the read first configuration
information to the management module through the data bus; comparing, by
the management module, the first configuration information with
configuration information pre-stored in a configuration library; if
inconsistent, updating the configuration information stored in the
configuration library; or storing, by the label that corresponds to the
physical component, the second configuration information that is sent
from the read-write module to the antenna module.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of International Patent
Application No. PCT/CN2012/078466, filed on Jul. 11, 2012, which claims
priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201210031495.5, filed on Feb.
13, 2012, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their
entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of communications, and
in particular to a method and an apparatus for cabinet asset management,
and a cabinet system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] For an existing typical communication cabinet system, generally, a
cabinet is located in a local end of an outdoor site, and a remote
network management center is located in a remote central equipment room.
The remote network management center implements interconnection and
communication with a device of the cabinet through a management channel
and a service information channel in a communication manner, such as the
Internet (Internet). The interior of the cabinet is configured with
various physical components required by the device, such as a power
distribution component, a power supply system, a service processing
component, and a passive physical component. Functions of the remote
remote network management center are mainly performing initial physical
parameter configuration for an internal device in the cabinet and
performing maintenance management (including asset management) on running
information of the device. Various internal physical components in the
cabinet connect to each other through cables, backplane interconnection
signals and so on. The cabinet and an external device (such as a tower
and a radio frequency device) are connected through a cable, an optical
fiber and so on.

[0004] An existing communication cabinet asset management system mainly
includes two parts: a cabinet device of a local end and a remote network
management center. A cabinet management center communicates with the
remote network management center through a bus such as a fast Ethernet
(FE, Fast Ethernet) bus. The interior of the cabinet device is configured
with various asset components. An electrical label module is integrated
in each asset component, and is configured to store asset information,
production-manufacturing information and so on of the component. The
cabinet management center is responsible for information management of
internal asset components in the cabinet. The remote network management
center is responsible for configuration and maintenance of asset
information of physical components in the cabinet.

[0005] The following problems exist in the existing communication cabinet
asset management system. First, a diversity of cabinet types exists,
configuration types of internal physical components in the cabinet are
complex, the asset information is manually configured in the existing
asset management system, and maintenance work of the system is complex
and costly. Therefore, asset configuration situations of the physical
components cannot be managed and updated in real time during upgrade
expansion of inventory devices and maintenance and replacement of devices
on an existing network, and presence information and asset information
can be determined by the cabinet asset management system only after the
internal physical components are powered on.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for
cabinet asset management, a cabinet system, and a method for cabinet
asset management, which can implement space locating of a internal
physical component in a communication cabinet and dynamic and real-time
management of asset information, reduce complexity of maintenance and
management of asset information of the internal physical component in the
cabinet, and implement a real-time update of asset configuration
information.

[0007] In one aspect, an apparatus for cabinet asset management is
provided, including: a management unit and at least one antenna board
unit. The management unit and the antenna board unit are connected
through a bus. The management unit is configured to send a read signal to
the antenna board unit through the bus, to instruct the antenna board
unit to acquire configuration information of a physical component. The
antenna board unit is configured to receive the read signal and send the
read signal in a form of an electromagnetic wave. The antenna board unit
is further configured to receive the configuration information of the
physical component, where the configuration information is sent by a
label within a radiation range of the electromagnetic wave after the read
signal is received, and report the configuration information to the
management unit through the bus. The label is located on the physical
component and stores the configuration information of the physical
component. The management unit is further configured to receive the
configuration information reported by the antenna board unit and perform
analysis processing on the configuration information.

[0008] In another aspect, a cabinet system is provided, including: an
apparatus for cabinet asset management and at least one physical
component. One corresponding label is set in each physical component. The
label stores configuration information of the corresponding physical
component. The apparatus for cabinet asset management includes a
management unit and at least one antenna board unit. The management unit
and the antenna board unit are connected through a bus. The management
unit is configured to send a read signal to the antenna board unit
through the bus, to instruct the antenna board unit to acquire
configuration information of a physical component. The management unit is
further configured to receive the configuration information reported by
the antenna board unit and perform analysis processing on the
configuration information. The antenna board unit is configured to
receive the read signal and send the read signal in a form of an
electromagnetic wave. The antenna board unit is further configured to
receive the configuration information of the corresponding physical
component, where the configuration information is sent by a label within
a radiation range of the electromagnetic wave after the read signal is
received, and report the configuration information to the management unit
through the bus.

[0009] In still another aspect, a method for cabinet asset management is
provided. The cabinet includes a management unit and one or more cabinet
physical partitions. Each cabinet physical partition includes an antenna
board unit and one or more physical components. The method includes:
transmitting, by the management unit, a control signal to an antenna
board unit of each cabinet physical partition of the one or more cabinet
physical partitions through a control bus; and according to the control
signal, reading, by the antenna board unit in each cabinet physical
partition, first configuration information of a physical component in a
wireless manner, and transmitting the first configuration information to
the management unit through a data bus; or according to the control
signal, acquiring, by the antenna board unit of each cabinet physical
partition, second configuration information from the management unit
through the data bus and writing the second configuration information
into a physical component in a wireless manner.

[0010] In the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present
invention, the management unit is used to control the antenna board unit
to send the read signal in the form of the electromagnetic wave to read
asset information of the physical component stored in an electronic label
located within the radiation range of the electromagnetic wave, and
performs statistics collection and analysis on the asset information of
the physical component. In this way, dynamic and real-time management on
the asset information of the internal physical component in a
communication cabinet is implemented, and complexity of maintenance and
management of the asset information of the internal physical components
in the cabinet is reduced, thereby implementing uniform management of
internal configuration information of the cabinet, and implementing a
real-time update of asset configuration information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] To illustrate technical solutions in embodiments of the present
invention more clearly, the following briefly introduces accompanying
drawings required for describing the embodiments or the prior art.
Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following description merely
show some embodiments of the present invention, and persons of ordinary
skill in the art can derive other drawings from these accompanying
drawings without creative efforts.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a cabinet system
according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a structural connection diagram of a cabinet system
according to a specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 3A and 3B are a structural connection diagram of a cabinet
system according to another specific embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method for cabinet asset management
according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of identifying a configuration of a physical
component in the cabinet system shown in FIG. 2;

[0017] FIG. 6 is a flow chart of identifying a configuration of a physical
component in the cabinet system shown in FIG. 3A and 3B;

[0018]FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are a flow chart of identifying a situation
that a physical component is newly inserted or removed inside a cabinet
system; and

[0019] FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are a flow chart of identifying and
automatically inquiring a configuration of an internal physical component
in a cabinet system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Technical solutions in embodiments of the present invention are
described clearly and completely in the following with reference to
accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention.
Apparently, the described embodiments are merely a part rather than all
of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments
obtained by persons of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments
of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the
protection scope of the present invention.

[0021] In the following embodiments of the present invention, a new-type
communication cabinet based on a wireless technology and a method for
identifying a configuration of a physical component in the cabinet are
provided and can implement application of power-free multi-module and
multi-cascading cabinet management of internal physical components in the
cabinet, thereby efficiently solving problems in asset management of an
existing communication cabinet, such as management complexity, manual
configuration, and real-time.

[0022] A cabinet system according to an embodiment of the present
invention is described below with reference to FIG. 1. A cabinet system 1
includes a management unit 11 and a cabinet physical partition 12. The
cabinet physical partition 12 includes an antenna board unit 121 and a
physical component area 122. The management unit 11 and the antenna board
unit 121 form an apparatus for cabinet asset management in the embodiment
of the present invention. The apparatus for cabinet asset management is
configured to perform management of a physical component in the cabinet
physical partition inside the cabinet.

[0023] Specifically, between the management unit 11 and the antenna board
unit 121 of the cabinet physical partition 12, a control signal is
transmitted through a control bus and a data signal is transmitted
through a data bus. In addition, the antenna board unit 121 and the
physical component area 122 are connected in a wireless manner. Here, the
wireless manner includes but is not limited to a radio frequency
identification (RFID, Radio Frequency Identification) technology. The
data bus includes but is not limited to an FE, a serial peripheral
interface (SPI, serial peripheral interface), a PCIE (Peripheral
Component Interconnect Express, peripheral component interconnect
express), and the like. Generally, the RFID technology is a wireless
communication identification technology. As can be seen above, in the
structure of the cabinet system 1, the physical component area 122 does
not need to be powered on and only the antenna board unit 121 needs to be
powered on through the management unit 11. Therefore, the antenna board
unit 121 may acquire configuration information of each physical component
in the physical component area 122 using the RFID technology.

[0024] For the apparatus for cabinet asset management, the management unit
11 sends a read signal to one antenna board unit 121 through a data bus.
After receiving the read signal, the antenna board unit 121 sends the
read signal in a form of an electromagnetic wave, so that a label within
a radiation range of the electromagnetic wave sends, after sensing a
magnetic field signal, configuration information of a physical component
stored in the label to the antenna board unit 121 using an induction
current. After receiving the configuration information, the antenna board
unit 121 reports the configuration information to the management unit 11.
After receiving the configuration information reported by the antenna
board unit 121, the management unit 11 performs data analysis processing.

[0025] Generally, the physical component may be placed in the physical
component area 122 in the cabinet system 1 (such as a physical component
1221 shown in FIG. 1). Here, the physical component may be a
communication circuit board, an electronic component, or the like.

[0026] In conclusion, the apparatus for cabinet asset management in the
embodiment of the present invention implements, using a wireless
technology, power-free multi-module space locating of internal physical
components in the communication cabinet, and dynamic and real-time
management of asset information, thereby implementing uniform management
of internal configuration information of the cabinet.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a structural connection diagram of a simplest cabinet
system 1. For example, when physical components in the cabinet system 1
is relatively less and distributed regularly, only one cabinet physical
partition 12 exists within an apparatus for cabinet asset management in
the cabinet system 1, as shown in FIG. 2. A management unit 11 includes a
management module 111, a read-write module 112, and a control module 113.
An antenna board unit 121 includes an address identification module 1211,
a switching module 1212, and one or more antenna modules (such as 1213 to
1215 shown in FIG. 2). In addition, physical components may be placed in
a physical component area 122 in the cabinet system 1. Each of the
physical components corresponds to one antenna module. As shown in FIG.
2, the physical component area 122 includes a physical component 1221 and
a label 1222. The physical component 1221 is in one-to-one correspondence
with the label 1222. The label 1222 is in the one-to-one correspondence
with the physical component 1222 and the label 1222 stores configuration
information of the physical component 1221, where the configuration
information may include position information, asset information, a
component type and/or manufacturing information, or the like of the
physical component 1221. Therefore, the physical component 1221 in the
cabinet system 1 can be precisely located using an RFID technology.

[0028] It should be noted that the cabinet system which is provided in the
embodiment of the present invention and includes three antenna modules
and three physical components is only an example and therefore should not
be understood as a limitation to the number of antenna modules and the
number of physical components of the cabinet system provided in the
embodiment of the present invention. It can be understood that, in one
embodiment, the number of antenna modules may be any integer that is
larger than or equal to the number of physical components. However, in a
practical application, taking cost saving into consideration, the number
of antenna modules generally equals the number of physical components.
For example, the current cabinet system contains 20 physical components
and the number of antenna modules is also 20. Further, the physical
components are in one-to-one correspondence with the antenna modules.

[0029] In the management unit 11, a data signal is transmitted between the
management module 111 and the read-write module 112 through a data bus
and a control signal is transmitted between the management module 111 and
the control module 113 and between the control module 113 and the
read-write module 112 through a control bus. In the antenna board unit
121, the data signal is transmitted between the switching module 1212 and
one or more antenna modules 1213 through the data bus and the control
signal is transmitted between the switching module 1212 and the address
identification module 1211 through the control bus.

[0030] In addition, the control signal and data signal are also
transmitted between the management unit 11 and the antenna board unit 121
through the control bus and the data bus, respectively. Specifically, the
data signal is transmitted between the read-write module 112 of the
management unit 11 and the switching module 1212 of the antenna board
unit 121 through the data bus and the control signal is transmitted
between the control module 111 of the manage unit 11 and the address
identification module 1211 of the antenna board unit 121 through the
control bus.

[0031] As can be seen above, in the cabinet system 1 shown in FIG. 2, the
management module 111 connects to the read-write module 112 through the
data bus and implements connection to the control module 113 through the
control bus. The control module 113 implements connection to the
read-write module 112 and the address identification module 1211 through
the control bus. The read-write module 112 implements connection to the
switching module 1212 through the data bus. The address identification
module 1211 implements connection to the switching module 1212 through
the control bus. The switching module 1212 implements connection to one
or more antenna modules 1213 through the data bus.

[0032] Therefore, a process of managing the asset information of the
internal physical components in the cabinet is: The control module 113
sends a node address message to the address identification module 1211;
after receiving the address message, the address identification module
1211 controls the switching module 1212 to switch the data bus to a
antenna module 1213 that corresponds to the address message; then, the
control module 113 sends a read command to the read-write module 112;
after receiving the read command, the read-write module 112 sends a radio
frequency signal to the corresponding antenna module 1213; the antenna
module 1213 sends the signal in a form of an electromagnetic wave, so
that a label within a radiation range of the electromagnetic wave sends,
after sensing a magnetic field signal, configuration information stored
in the label to the antenna module 1213 using an induction current;
subsequently, after receiving the configuration information, the
corresponding antenna module 1213 transmits the configuration information
to the read-write module 112 through the data bus, and then reports, via
the read-write module 112, the configuration information to the
management module 111; finally, after receiving the configuration
information reported by the corresponding antenna module 1213, the
management module 111 performs data analysis processing, where if the
configuration information is consistent with information recorded in a
configuration library, no processing is performed, and if the
configuration information changes, update maintenance of the
configuration library is performed.

[0033] As can be seen above, the apparatus for cabinet asset management in
the embodiment of the present invention implements, using a wireless
technology, power-free multi-module space locating of internal physical
components in the communication cabinet, and dynamic and real-time
management of the asset information, thereby further implementing a
uniform management of internal configuration information of the cabinet.

[0034] In conclusion, multiple modules or components are involved in the
cabinet system 1 and each of the modules or components has a different
function.

[0035] Specifically, the management module 111 is configured to manage
configuration information of a physical component and determine a period
for cyclically inquiring the configuration information. The configuration
information includes position information, asset information, a component
type, and/or manufacturing information. The read-write module 112 is
configured to perform conversion between an electronic signal and a radio
frequency signal. The control module 113 is configured to control sending
of a radio frequency signal of the read-write module 112, configure the
period for cyclically inquiring the configuration information, and
control, via the address identification module 1211, the switching module
1212 to switch the data bus. In addition, the address identification
module 1211 is configured to receive, from the control module 113, a
control signal that contains an address of the antenna board part 121 and
an address of the physical component 1221, and identify the address of
the antenna board part 121 and the address of the physical component
1221, so that the switching module 1212 switches the data bus. The
switching board 1212 is configured to switch the radio frequency signal
to the antenna module 1213. The antenna module 1213 is configured to
radiate the radio frequency signal in the form of the electromagnetic
wave and at the same time receives configuration information of the
physical component 1221 sent by the label 1222. The label 1222 is
configured to store the configuration information of the physical
component 1221, send the configuration information using energy obtained
from an induction current, or write, into itself, information sent by the
antenna module 1213.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a simplest cabinet system structure, that is, one
management unit 11 and one cabinet physical partition 12. Generally, the
structure of a communication cabinet system is relatively complex and
needs to be configured with many physical components. Therefore, physical
components need to be divided into multiple cabinet physical partitions
12 in the cabinet system and each of the cabinet physical partitions is
configured with an antenna board unit 121.

[0037] In an apparatus which is for cabinet asset management and formed of
a management unit 11 and multiple antenna board units 121, the multiple
antenna board units 121 implement cascading connection through a control
bus and a data bus. For example, in the multiple antenna board units 121,
address identification modules 1211 implement cascading connection to
each other through the control bus and switching modules 1212 implement
cascading connection to each other through the data bus, as shown in FIG.
3A and 3B.

[0038] Each cabinet physical partition 12 has a similar structure. The
management unit 11 in a cabinet system 1 may be configured inside the
cabinet system, and may also be configured outside the cabinet. Likewise,
physical components 1221 in physical component areas 122 of each cabinet
physical partition 12 still do not need to be powered on, and an antenna
board unit 121 only needs to be powered on via the management unit 11.
Therefore, the antenna board unit 121 may acquire configuration
information of each of the physical components 1221 in the physical
component areas 122 using an RFID technology.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 3A and 3B, the cabinet system 1 includes the
management unit 11 and multiple cabinet physical partitions 12 (such as
cabinet physical partition 12_1 to cabinet physical partition
12--n). The multiple cabinet physical partitions 12 implement
cascading connection through the control bus and data bus. For example,
in the multiple cabinet physical partitions 12, the address
identification modules 1211 of the antenna board units 121 in each
cabinet physical partition 12 implement cascading connection to each
other through the control bus, and meanwhile the switching modules 1212
of the antenna board units 121 implement cascading connection to each
other through the data bus.

[0040] As can be seen above, the multi-unit and multi-node (that is,
multiple physical components) cabinet system shown in FIG. 3A and 3B has
several cabinet physical partitions. Each of the cabinet physical
partitions is formed of an antenna board unit and a physical component
area, where physical components of which the number corresponds to that
of antenna modules in an antenna board unit may be placed in each
physical component area. An address identification module in each antenna
board unit is configured to identify an address of the antenna board unit
and an address of a physical component. A control module implements
connection to the address identification module through the control bus.
The address identification module of each antenna board unit of the
apparatus for cabinet asset management in the cabinet system implements
cascading connection to an address identification module of an
upper-level antenna board unit through the control bus; a switching
module of each antenna board unit of the apparatus for cabinet asset
management in the cabinet system implements cascading connection to a
switching module of an upper-level antenna board unit through the data
bus.

[0041] With reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 7B, the following specifically
describes a method for performing cabinet asset management by using a
cabinet system in embodiments of the present invention. A cabinet system
1 includes a management unit 11 and one or more cabinet physical
partitions 12 (such as 12_1 to 12--n), where each cabinet physical
partition 12 includes an antenna board unit 121 and a physical component
area 122. The method for cabinet asset management shown in FIG. 4
includes:

[0042] 41. The management unit 11 transmits a control signal to the
antenna board unit 121 of each cabinet physical partition 12 of the one
or more cabinet physical partitions through a control bus.

[0043] 42. The antenna board unit 121 of each cabinet physical partition
12 reads, according to the control signal, first configuration
information of the physical component area 122 in a wireless manner, and
transmits the first configuration information to the management unit 11
through a data bus; or the antenna board unit 121 of each cabinet
physical partition 12 acquires, according to the control signal and
through a data bus, second configuration information from the management
unit 11, and writes the second configuration information to the physical
component area 122 in a wireless manner.

[0044] Further, the management unit 11 includes a management module 111, a
read-write module 112, and a control module 113. The antenna board unit
121 includes an address identification module 1211, a switching module
1212, and an antenna module 1213. The physical component area 122
includes a physical component 1221 and a label 1222, where the physical
component 1221 is in one-to-one correspondence with the label 1222. That
is, one corresponding label 1222 is set in each physical component 1221.
The label 1222 stores configuration information of the corresponding
physical component 1221. Specifically, the method for cabinet asset
management according to the embodiment of the present invention includes
the following steps:

[0045] The management module 111 delivers a first control signal, which
includes a cycle inquiring period for cyclically inquiring configuration
information, to the control module 113 through the control bus, so that
the control module 113 configures the cycle inquiring period T according
to the first control signal.

[0046] Within the cycle inquiring period T, the control module 113
transmits, through the control bus, a second control signal, which
includes address information of an antenna board unit and address
information of a physical component, to the address identification module
1211 of an antenna board unit 121 that corresponds to an address of the
antenna board unit, and transmits the second control signal to the
management module 111.

[0047] An address identification module 1211 of the antenna board unit 121
that corresponds to the address of the antenna board unit identifies an
address of the physical component in the second control signal, and
sends, through the control bus, a third control signal to a switching
module 1212 of the antenna board unit 121 that corresponds to the address
of the antenna board unit.

[0048] A switching module 1212 of the antenna board unit 121 that
corresponds to the address of the antenna board unit connects, according
to the third control signal, the read-write module 112 through the data
bus to an antenna module 1213 that corresponds to an address of the
physical component, so that the antenna module 1213 sends, to its
corresponding physical component 1221, a radio frequency signal from the
read-write module 112.

[0049] After receiving the radio frequency signal, the physical component
1221 sends first configuration information of the physical component 1221
stored in its corresponding label 1222 to the antenna module 1213 in the
wireless manner, so that the antenna module 1213 transmits the first
configuration information of the physical component 1221 to the
read-write module 112 via the switching module 1212 through the data bus.
Alternatively, the physical component 1221 writes second configuration
information, which is sent from the read-write module 112 to the antenna
module 1213 via the switching module 1212 through the data bus, to its
corresponding label 1222 for storing. The second configuration
information is configuration information of the physical component 1221
stored in a configuration library of the management module 111.

[0050] The read-write module 112 transmits read configuration information
of the physical component 1221 to the management module 111 through the
data bus. The management module 111 compares the configuration
information with the configuration information stored in the
configuration library of the management module 111. If inconsistent, the
configuration information stored in the configuration library is updated.
It should be noted that the configuration library pre-stores
configuration information of all physical components in the current
cabinet system. If a physical component is newly added or a physical
component is replaced in the current system, inconsistency between
currently read configuration information and the configuration
information stored in the configuration library (that is, the
configuration information is not recorded in the configuration library)
is caused. At this time, the configuration information in the
configuration library needs to be updated.

[0051] The configuration information of all physical components in all
cabinet physical partitions 12 is compared in turn with the configuration
information stored in the configuration library of the management module
111, until the control module 113 detects that the cycle inquiring period
T expires.

[0052] FIG. 5 shows an identification, inquiring and processing procedure
of a single-unit and multi-node physical space in the cabinet system
shown in FIG. 2.

[0053] 501. After a cabinet system 1 is powered on, a management module
111 establishes a connection to a control module 113 through a control
bus, and delivers, to the control module 113, a period T command for
cyclically inquiring configuration information of physical components.

[0054] 502. After receiving the cycle inquiring period T command, the
control module 113 completes configuration of a period T.

[0055] 503. The control module 113 delivers a control signal, which
contains address information of each of the physical components, to an
address identification module 1211 in turn. Meanwhile, the control module
113 notifies an address of each of the physical components to the
management module 111, so that the management module 111 determines
corresponding configuration information stored in a configuration
library. Because only one cabinet physical partition unit exists in the
cabinet 1 shown in FIG. 2, an address of the cabinet physical partition
unit is unique. The control signal, which contains the address
information of each of the physical components and is sent by the control
module 113, may have address information of an antenna board unit of the
only one cabinet physical partition unit.

[0056] 504. After receiving the control signal that includes an address of
a physical component, the address identification module 1211 controls a
switching module 1212 to switch a data bus to an antenna module 1213 that
corresponds to the address.

[0057] 505. The control module 113 sends a read command to a read-write
module 112.

[0058] 506. After receiving the read command, the read-write module 112
completes sending of a radio frequency signal and transmits the radio
frequency signal to the antenna module 1213 through, for example, a
coaxial cable, so that the antenna module 1213 then sends an
electromagnetic signal in a form of an electromagnetic wave.

[0059] 507. After a label 1222 within a radiation range of the
electromagnetic signal of the antenna module 1213 senses the
electromagnetic signal, the label 1222 sends, to the antenna module 1213
and using an induction current, configuration information of a physical
component that corresponds to the label and is stored in the label 1222.
Here, the configuration information may be position information, asset
information, and the like.

[0060] 508. After receiving the configuration information, the antenna
module 1213 transmits the configuration information to the read-write
module 112 through the data bus.

[0061] 509. The read-write module 112 then transmits the configuration
information to the management module 111.

[0062] 510. After receiving the reported configuration information, the
management module 111 delivers, to the control module 113, a control
signal that indicates that the configuration information has been
received. At this time, after receiving the control signal that is
delivered by the management module 111 and indicates that the
configuration information has been received, the control module 113
starts to inquiring configuration information of a next physical
component, to complete reading and reporting of configuration information
of all physical components in turn.

[0063] 511. The management module 111 then performs data analysis and
processing at the same time of receiving the reported configuration
information. If the received configuration information is consistent with
configuration information stored in the configuration library, no
processing is performed; if the received configuration information is
inconsistent with the configuration information stored in the
configuration library, the configuration library is updated by using the
received configuration information.

[0064] After completing reading of configuration information of all
physical components in the cabinet 1, the management module 111 stops
working. When it is detected the period T expires, the control module 113
starts again to execute a next round of position identification of all
physical components and a processing operation of configuration
information.

[0065] FIG. 6 shows an identification, inquiring and processing procedure
of a multi-unit and multi-node physical space in the cabinet system shown
in FIG. 3A and 3B. In multiple cabinet physical partition units shown in
FIG. 3A and 3B, address identification modules of all antenna board units
implement cascading connection to each other through a control bus, and
switching modules of all antenna board units implement cascading
connection through a data bus. An address identification module of only
one antenna board unit connects to a control module, and a switching
module of only one antenna board unit connects to a read-write module.
Compared with the procedure shown in FIG. 5, this procedure adds
functions of identification and processing of the address of an antenna
board unit in a multi-node solution.

[0066] 601. When a cabinet 1 is powered on, a management module 111
establishes a connection to a control module 113 through a control bus
and delivers a period T command for cyclically inquiring configuration
information of physical components to the control module 113.

[0067] 602. After receiving the cycle inquiring period T command, the
control module 113 completes configuration of a period T.

[0068] 603. After completing the configuration of the cycle inquiring
period T, the control module 113 first delivers a control signal, which
contains an address of an antenna board unit, to an address
identification module 1211 of an antenna board unit 121 that corresponds
to the address of the antenna board unit, so that the address
identification module 1211 determines the address of the antenna board
unit.

[0069] 604. The control module 113 then delivers a control signal, which
contains address information of a physical component, to the address
identification module 1211 of the antenna board unit 121 that corresponds
to the address of the antenna board unit.

[0070] 605. After receiving the address information of the physical
component, the address identification module 1211 controls a switching
module 1212 to switch the data bus to an antenna module 1213 that
corresponds to the address of the physical component.

[0071] 606. The control module 113 sends a read command to a read-write
module 112.

[0072] 607. After receiving the read command, the read-write module 112
completes sending of a radio frequency signal, and transmits the radio
frequency signal to the antenna module 1213 through, for example, a
coaxial cable, so that the antenna module 1213 then sends an
electromagnetic signal in a form of an electromagnetic wave.

[0073] 608. After a label 1222 within the radiation range of the
electromagnetic signal of the antenna module 1213 senses the
electromagnetic signal, the label 1222 sends, to the antenna module 1213
and using an induction current, configuration information of a physical
component that corresponds to the label and is stored in the label 1222.
Here, the configuration information may be position information, asset
information, or the like.

[0074] 609. After receiving the configuration information, the antenna
module 1213 transmits the configuration information to the read-write
module 112 through the data bus.

[0075] 610. The read-write module 112 then transmits the configuration
information to the management module 111.

[0076] 611. After receiving the reported configuration information, the
management module 111 delivers, to the control module 113, a control
signal that indicates that the configuration information has been
received. Meanwhile, after receiving the control signal that is delivered
by the management module 111 and indicates that the configuration
information has been received, the control module 113 starts to inquire
configuration information of a next physical component, to complete
reading and reporting of configuration information of all physical
components in turn. After completing, according to an address sequence of
physical components that correspond to the antenna board unit, reading of
configuration information of all physical components and updating of a
configuration library in turn, the control module 113 starts to inquire
an address of an antenna board unit in a next cabinet physical partition
unit and completes delivery of address information of the antenna board
unit. After determining an antenna board type, the control module 113
delivers the address information of the antenna board unit and completes
reading of configuration information of all physical components in the
cabinet physical partition unit and an operation of updating the
configuration library in turn.

[0077] 612. The management module 111 further performs data analysis and
processing at the same time of receiving the reported configuration
information. If the received configuration information is consistent with
configuration information stored in the configuration library, no
processing is performed; if the received configuration information is
inconsistent with the configuration information stored in the
configuration library, the configuration library is updated by using the
received configuration information.

[0078] In other words, each time after reading of configuration
information of all physical components in one unit and updating of the
configuration library are completed, an address of an antenna board unit
is switched in turn, and reading of configuration information of all
physical components in the cabinet physical partition unit that
corresponds to the antenna board unit and updating of the configuration
library are completed. After completing reading of configuration
information of all physical components in all units in the cabinet 1 and
the operation of updating the configuration library, the management
module 111 stops working

[0079] When it is detected that the period T expires, the control module
113 starts again to execute a next round of position identification of
all physical components and a processing operation of configuration
information.

[0080] When a physical component is newly inserted or removed inside the
cabinet system, the configuration information of the newly inserted
physical component may be acquired and whether the physical component is
removed is identified according to the identification method, as shown in
FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B.

[0081] In the procedure of cyclically inquiring and processing
configuration information, after a new physical component 1221 is
inserted, a label module 1222 sends configuration information of the
newly inserted physical component 1221 to an antenna module 1213 using an
induction current. Then, after receiving the configuration information of
the new physical component, the antenna module 1213 transmits the
configuration information to the read-write module 112 via the switching
module 1212 through the data bus, and then the read-write module 112
reports the configuration information to the management module 111. After
receiving the reported configuration information of the new physical
component, the management module 111 finds, after performing analysis
processing, that the configuration information is new configuration
information, and then the management module 111 performs update
maintenance processing on the configuration library.

[0082] Alternatively, in the foregoing procedure of cyclically inquiring
and processing configuration information, when a physical component 1221
is removed, the antenna module 1213 continuously sends an electromagnetic
signal, but does not read configuration information fed back by the label
1222, and therefore cannot transmit the configuration information to the
management module 111 through the data bus. The management module 111
then does not send, to the control module 113, a control signal that
indicates that the configuration information has been received. When time
t is exceeded, the control module 113 still has not received a control
signal which is from the management module 111 and indicates that the
configuration information has been received. The control module 113
reports, to the management module 111, information that an address
position of the physical component 1221 is null. After receiving the null
configuration information, the management module 111 performs null
setting and update processing on configuration information of the
physical component that corresponds to the address of the physical
component and is in the configuration library.

[0083] In addition, as shown in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, the cabinet system
may also automatically inquires, according to address information of a
physical component, a configuration situation of the physical component
at the address in the current cabinet. For example, the management module
111 first delivers address information of the to-be-inquired physical
component 1221 to a control module 113; after receiving the address
information, the control module 113 determines, according to the address
information, an address of a to-be-selected antenna board, and delivers
address information of the antenna board to an address identification
module 1211; a switching module 1212 where an antenna board unit 121 is
located completes switching of the data bus according to an address of
the physical component in the address identification module 1211; and
then the cabinet system 1 completes reading of the configuration
information that corresponds to the physical component 1221 and an
operation of updating the configuration library.

[0084] The embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for
cabinet asset management, a cabinet system, and a method for cabinet
asset management, which can implement space locating of internal physical
components in a communication cabinet and dynamic and real-time
management of asset information, reduce complexity of maintenance and
management of asset information of the internal physical components in
the cabinet, and implement a real-time update of asset configuration
information.

[0085] A cabinet in the embodiments of the present invention implements
identification and locating of a space position of an internal physical
component in a communication cabinet by using an RFID technology, and
solves a problem of a failure in precise locating in an existing
communication cabinet. In addition, a method for cabinet asset management
in the embodiments of the present invention may further save manual
configuration, simplify operations, implement real-time, dynamic, and
non-manual maintenance of configuration information of internal physical
components in the cabinet and power-free management of components,
implement tracing and inventory management of cabinet assets, and reduce
maintenance costs, thereby reducing operation and maintenance costs of a
customer. In other words, the cabinet and the method for cabinet asset
management according to the embodiments of the present invention
implement position of internal passive physical components and asset
information management of the cabinet, thereby implementing uniform
management of internal configuration information of the cabinet.

[0086] Persons of ordinary skill in the art can be aware that, units and
algorithm steps in combination with the examples described in the
embodiments disclosed in this document can be implemented by electronic
hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware.
Whether these functions are executed in hardware or software manner
depends on particular applications and design constraint conditions of
the technical solutions. Persons skilled in the art can use different
methods to implement the described functions for every particular
application, but it should not be deemed that the implementation goes
beyond the scope of the present invention.

[0087] Persons skilled in the art can clearly understand that, for a
purpose of convenient and brief description, for detailed working
processes of the foregoing system, apparatus and unit, reference may be
made to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments,
and the details will not be described herein again.

[0088] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should
be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus, and method may be
implemented in other manners. For example, the described apparatus
embodiments are merely exemplary. For example, the division of units is
merely logical function division and there may be other division manner
in actual implementation. For example, multiple units or components can
be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be
ignored or not performed. In addition, the displayed or discussed mutual
couplings or direct couplings or communication connections may be
implemented through some interfaces. The indirect couplings or
communication connections between the apparatuses or units may be
implemented in electronic, mechanical or other forms.

[0089] The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically
separate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units,
that is, may be located in one position, or may be distributed on
multiple network elements. Part or all of the units may be selected
according to the actual requirements to achieve the objectives of the
solutions of the embodiments.

[0090] In addition, functional units in the embodiments of the present
invention may be integrated into one processing unit, or each of the
units may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated
into one unit.

[0091] When being implemented in a form of a software functional unit and
sold or used as an independent product, the functions may be stored in a
computer-readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, essence of
the technical solutions of the present invention, or the part
contributing to the prior art, or part of the technical solutions may be
implemented in a form of a software product. The computer software
product is stored in a storage medium, and includes several instructions
for instructing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a
server, a network device, or the like) to execute all or part of the
steps of the method described in the embodiments of the present
invention. The storage medium includes: any medium that can store program
codes, such as a U-disk, a removable hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM,
Read-Only Memory), a random access memory (RAM, Random Access Memory), a
magnetic disk, or an optical disk.

[0092] The foregoing descriptions are merely exemplary embodiments of the
present invention, but not intended to limit the protection scope of the
present invention. Any variation or replacement that can be easily
figured out by persons skilled in the art within the disclosed technical
scope of the present invention shall fall within the protection scope of
the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present
invention shall be subject to the protection scope of the appended
claims.